Railway intersection.



E. S. COBB.

RAILWAY INTERSEGTION.

APPLICATION FILED 11111z.5.1913.

Patented s611123, 1913.

-SHBBI 1 2 SHEETS y j( 11 f E. S. COBB.

RAILWAY INTBRSBCTION.

APPLIUATION FILED MAB@I 1913.

1,074,083. Patented sep1;.23,1913.

z SHEETS-SHEET z,

. each, each of the EDWARD S. COBB, OF WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA.

RAILWAY INTE'RSECTION.

To all whom it may concern Be. it known that I, Vltlnwaiin S. Conn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Il'hitticr, in the county of Los.' Angeles, State et' California, have .invented new and useful Improvements in Railway Intersections, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to an intersection construction for rail\va vs and the like; and relates particularly to a method and consti'iictiono't forming a continuous rail and causing continuons track action on any sort of-iiitersection. 4 i

It is-tl'ie prime object of my invention to provide a construction which is simple, etlicient and durable, and which will provide ccntinaoiis rail action at any and all crossings and provide rail intersection joints of such nature so as to avorio. all shock, wear and deformation of the rails and the wheels passing over them.

Thefundamental of this particular inven tion is the provision of movable rail poi'- tions directly adjacent the individual rail in tersections. these 'movable rail portions di rectly abutting the ends of the rails at their junctions and being mounted so as to swing in the vertical planes of the respective rails about a pivotal point located under fl'e rail intersection. I provide such a movable rail portion for each rail ,at each intersection; and the general arrangement is such that either one or the other ofthe'movable rail portions will be moved linto direct engageinent with the end of :its corresponding rail at the junction, or may be moved aboiit its pivot-al support so as to move its engaging end from the intersection to leave a free space through which a flange of a wheel traveling over the other rail may pass. In an ordinary crossing construction tivo intersecting pairs of two parallel rails sections of rail between individiial rail intersections willinclude two of these oscillating rail portions; and in my preferred forni of construction, that said section of each rail consists entirely of two oscillating rail portions. I provide suitable mechanism for operating these oscillating rail portions in s'iich manner that when one of the intersecting pairs of .rails is connected through to effect ycontinuons rail action, the other pair is disconnected by the movement of their oscillating rail portions away from Specification of Letters Iatent.

Application filed March 5, 1913.

`details which may including Patented Sept. 23,1913.

semi No. 751,988.

the rail intersections. In this. operating mechanism I also yprovide suitable means of locking the oscillating rail portions in their positions; and when the rail portions are in position to cause continuous ail action, they are supported and held with extreme solidf ity. and the joint between the permanent rails and the movable portions are closed very tightly. In my invention I have als( provided, in the construction of the individual rail intersections and the joining of the movable rail ortions therewith, for continuing unbrokendhe line of greatest wheel pressure in the tread face of the rails. All of the joints between the rail portions aie made at an angle; so that there is no opportunity for` a wheel to drop into any of the joints, should the joints not be pressed tightly together. Thus, with these two prof visions, one for ressing the joint very tightly and solidly together, and the other for making the joint of a practical continuons nature, I vcompletely avoid all possibilities of shock at the rail intersections.

The dcsign and mechanism for pressing tightly the joint together, is one of the dis tinguishing characteristics of this invention; it is a characteristic which enters largely into the essence of the form of which I a in about to describe.

I have illustrated preferred forms of my invention in the accompanying drawings; and I will describe preferred forms in the following' detailed specification. And bfrom this description the fundamentals of my invention may be easily contrasted with those be modified without altering the underlying nature of my construction.

In these drawings: plan showing the applicationof tion to a simple crossing. Fig. tical section taken on line Fig, 3 is a somewhat similar view of a moditied 'form of device. Figs. l and 5 are p erspective details showing the y construction and operation of the individual. rail intel` sections. Fig. 6 isa perspective showing a forni of electrical control apparatus which may be used with my invention. i

' I have Figure 1 is a sectional my inven- 2 1s a ver- In the accompanying drawings illustrated my construction as applied to a right angled 'crossing or intersection of tv vo pairs of two parallel rails. each; but 1t will .be seen that my invention may be applied to a crossing of any character and of any number of tracks or rails. and 11 may designate secting pairs, each of at its junction I prefer, in this embodiment of my invention, to use the construction shown in Figs.

the rails of two interthe rails terminating ,1 and 4. The rails 10 and 11` are joined, or

face 1'3 cuts across the longitudinal tread' axis of the rail at any angle. The rails 10 and 11 are preferably mounted upon the four corners of abox foundation 15 which carries suitable flanges to which 4the rails are secured, as at'16. In addition to being thus rigidly secured to the box 15, the rails may be further secured together by .a suitable heavy strap 17 bolted into the angle between each two meeting rails. The rails are thus rigidly securedtogether and secured to the foundation 15; and foundation 15 is so constructed, being of a suitable heavy design and properly braced, that the different rails 10 and 11 are heldsolidly-and rigidly in proper-'relation to each other.

My'box foundation 15 is preferably constructed as is shown in Figs. l and 2, or as is shown in Fig. 3, having a base 15a and suitable side Walls 15b andbrackets 15C; and being provided with suitable cover plates 20 and 21. Cover plate 21 is preferably support-ed on columns or pedestals 22 extending' upwardly from the base 15a of the box foundation; and a suitable man hole and cover 23 is provided for immediate accessl tothe interior ofthe boX and to the mechanism contained therein.

For each of the rails 10 and 11 at each individual rail intersection, I provide `a movable, oscillating, rail continuation portion 25, each of these portions being mounted to oscillate about a center below the corresponding rai-l intersection, as will be hereinafter described. I prefer to make the whole rail section between the individual rail intersections to consist each of two of these movable portions 25; the two movable portions 25 being joined together in such manner as `effect substantially continuous rail action between them.` I will describe the construc- I tion and action of one pair'of .these oscillating portions 25 and will then describe the coperation of all the portions-25 and a preferred method of causing their action. Each of the portions 25 has an upper tread part 26 which is adapted to'formv a continuation of the tread'of the Vpermanent railslO In these drawings 10.

with a rail of the other pair.4

Below the tread part 26 there is a suitable web 27 constructed so as to yafford great strength to the movable rail portions.

Each of the rail portions has a bearing part i .26 adapted to rest upon a cylindrical bearing surface 29. This bearing surface 29 is formed upon a suitable 4bracket 30 preferably forming an integral' part of the box' foundation 15 and constructed for great strength and solidity. The movable portions 25 each move on thebearing 29 about center 31; and links32 are provided for holding the portions 25 down on the bearing surfaces 29. 26 has an end 26a terminating ina plane at the same angle as that of the plane' 13; soy that the end of either one of the tread por'- tions 26a maybe placedin engagement with the end surfaces 13 ofthe rails 10 or 11. It will be noted that the end 26a of the movable rail portion 25 is of such configuration as to.

form practically a continuous rail when in engagement with the ends of rails 10 and 11; and that the line of greatest-'pressure on the tread'. (the center high line of the'tread surface) iscon't-inued practically unbroken from the rails 10 or 11 onto the movable rail portions 25. The tread surfaces of the movable portions 25 are eiiiciently joined by prof viding a lapped joint between the two por- 95 tions, as is best shown in Fig. 1. With this lap joint there is no break in the continuity of the'tread axis; the'parts 25a of the movable rail portions 25 lying each on opposite sides of the central rails.

It will be seen that the movable rail portions 25 may be placed either in the position shown in ful-l lines or in the position shown in dotted lines in Fio. 2. shown in full lines the inoperative position) the ends 26a are at a distance from the vrail junctions so as to leave a space inside the rails for the passage of a wheel flange. The ends .26? tially a. horizontal direction; while the inner overlapping portins 25a are seenlto move more or'less vertically, the movement of the various portions being around the points 31 as centers. to the -Iposititlns indicated in dotted Alines in Fig. 2, then the'ends 26a may be forced into engagement with the ends of rails lOiand l1].,

`and the treadportions 26 form continuations of the tread portions of the rails 10 12o or 11, as the case may be. The movable 'ortions 25 may be held against lateral motlon,

induced by the side -thrust action -oilthe-fend 26a pressing' against the'diagonal 'plane 13, by tongues 27b the webs of rails 10 and 11. The construction and dimensions are such that, when the treads of portions 25 are iti-properl horizontalalinement, the jointbetween the portions,l

25 and the rails 10 and 11 will be very tight 1.3?`

Each of "the tread parts 'y l vertical plane of the 100.

In the posit-ion are seen to'move in substan- 110 When the portions 25 are raised 11 5 playing" 1n apertures' 27 i in 125 and this solidity of joining is of great importance as it entirely obviates the inception of a shock Ior jar which would, if started, soonbreak down the whole crossing Qonstruct1on.

v The niechanismfor moving the rail portions 25 preferably comprises an `oscillating shaft 35 for each of the double sets of rail portions 25 corresponding with the pairs of rails 10 or 11. On each shaft 35 there are mounted.' two arms 36 each carrying a pin 37 forming a pivotal connective means with a strut 38. This strut i38 connects directly sets of movable rail portions 25,

, slightly 'above e with a pin 39 to which the inner ends of compression links 40 are all attached. The outer ends of compression links 40 are pivs otally secured at 41 tothe webs 27 of movable rail portions 35. The whole arrangement is such that, with the parts in the positlon shown in Fig. 2, the links 40 are dropped down and pull the pivot points 41 1n toward each other; but upon rotation of theshaft 35 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow, the links 40 will be forced upwardly and will thereby force the pivotal points 41 apart and force the members 25 about the points 31 as centers until the members reach the `posit-ions shown in dotted lines. When these positions are reached, the arm 36 will have reached the position shown in dotted lines,'as will have also the strut 38; and suitable stop shoulders 42 on t-he arm and strut will then engage to prevent further movement of the arm and strut; but the relative positions ot" arm and strut are .such that downward pressure on the strut, or on the pin 39, will only tend to press .the stop shoulders 42 more tightly into engagement and will not tend to rotate the shaft 35. In the position shown in dotted lines, the links 40 have passed to a positioliwhere the pin 39 is line'joining the pivot centers 41; so that inward pressure on the pivot centers 41 will not 4tend to create downward pressure on. the. pin 39. Thus the members 25 are doubly locked inposition. When the members 25 are in the position shown in dotted lines the 35 bearsagainst surfaces 43 and on the underside oit web strengthening ,members 27 which are secured to the webs 27 where they overlap each other. These strengthening portions 27 a bearing directly upon the pin 39, and the pin 39 heing substantially supported by the strut 38 and the arm 36, the overlapping, `or central parts of the rail portions 25 are very solidly supported in proper alinement. y

In applying my invention to the ordinary form of railway intersections, there are tour one set for each of the our intersecting rails; `and the two opposite sets of portions,25 are to be operated simultaneously to eitectcontmuity of the rails of either of the intersecting direction.

tracks. Thus I arrange one of the 'Shafts 35 to operate opposite sets of movable rail portions 25, while the other shaft 35 Operates the other opposite sets of movable rail portions 25. I prefer to have such an l? rangement as will cooperate all the movable rail portions; so that when one double of said portions 1s thrown into position to cause continuity of rail action for one track, the other set is thrown out of that position; I have indicated in the'dl'awings direc?l tions of rotation of the two shafts 35 for lowering, or throwino out of operative po-I sition, the correspon ing movable rail por: tions 25; rotation in the opposite direction raising the corresponding movable rail por-A` tion to operative position. I suitably interconnect the two shafts 35 so that Wheneither is rotated in the direction indicated, the other is rotated in the opposite direction; and I .may do this through thc medium of suitable gearing connections as is indicated at 50 and 51. I may cause suitable operation ot the whole system by means of a motor 52 connected by suitable gearing 53 with either of the shafts The motor may be controlled from a distant point by any suit? able means, either manually or by operation 'of a car rolling over the track. Either of these means is well known and requires no detailed explanation here. In order to limit the operation oi the motor to ,rotate the shafts 35 only through the desired angles of rotation, I may make use of some suitable cut ott device such as is illustrated in Fig. 6. I may employ a suitable commutator 60 having thereon two pairs of collector rings (i1 and G2 and two pairs of segments 63 and 64. Suitable brushes (35 and G6 may engage the collector rings 61 and 62,` and from` these brushes wires 67 and G8 muy lead to the motor 52, being connected thereto in such manner that supply of current through one set oiE wires will operate the motor in one direction and supply through the other set of wires will operate the motor in the other The segmentsGS and (i4 may be engaged by suitable brushes 69 and 70 and wires 71 and 72 leading 'from these brushes will forni the means of supplying current to` the motor for operation of the track intersecting mechanism. In the forni shown in the drawings, the shafts 35 require a rotation ot approximately 90 degrees, or slightly less; and it will be seen that the segments 63 and 64 are so arranged tll'ai, on a travel of `the commutator ot slightly less than 49() degrees in either direction, one or other of the sets of brushest) or 7() will be out of engagement with the corresprmding segments. Thus, the arrangement may be such that if current is supplied to the wires 72, it will pass. through brushes 70` segments G3, commutator connections 75, collector rings- 62,

brushes 66 and wires 68 to the motor; which 180 ation of t-liemotor.

be caused by sending current through the will operate the motor in a direction to turn the shafts' and the commutator in the direction indicated by the arrow. This will cause the rotation'of t-he segment 63 under the v brushesfO; and when the ends of the segments have passed from under thebrushes, the, circuitl .will be broken and the motor will cease operation of the mechanism.' During thi's rotation, the segments 64 will have passed under the brushes 69 and will be thus in electrical contactfor the next ope-r- Tlie-next operation will wires 71, which willv supply current to the l j In Fig. 3 I have indicated a moditied form ofiny invention, showing in that figure only one-set or"y the movable track portions 25d. The operation of this modified form is sub- 'stantia'llythesame as hereinbefore described, i excepting that the mechanism for moving the lportions 25d is somewhat different.v For each of the sets of movable track portions I ,employ two sl'iat'tsB-Ed upon which I mount inter-engaging sectors 8() having stop shoulders 81 which engage each other as shown in thedrawings. When the stop shoulders'engage each other, pivot pins 82 are in the posi# tion shown in full lines in that figure, and compression Alinks 83 are in their uppermostpositions, or approximately so.- Links 83 are ljoined Aby pivot pins 84 each to one 'of' vthe movable rail portions 25d; so that, when the-'parts are in the'position shown in tull lines, the movable rail portions are in positions to effect va continuous rail action.

When in this position, each of the portions 25d has a surface 85 which will rest upon the pin 84 belonging to the other port-ion 25d;

and thus portion 25d is supported by ea'ch of pivots '84 in addition to being supported on cylindrical bearing surface 29d.' This construction consequently aitords great solidity of support for the movable rail portions. Another difference which may be particularly spoken of is the manner of connecting theilinks 32d. These links are pivoted at 31d, as before, but are rigidly attached to the member 25d; so that the members are thereby constrained to rotate about the pivot 31d.

Having described my invention, I claimt l. A rail joint construction, comprising a plurality of rails terminating in junction,

` and a continuation portion for each .rail abutting the end of the rail at the junction,

said Vcontinuation'portion being pivoted be- 0W the rail unction to swing longitudinally toward or away from the adjacent rail end in the vertical plane determined by the longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail.

2. A rail joint construction, comprising a plurality of'rails terminating in a junction, and a continuation portion for each rail abutting the end of the rail at the junction, said continuation portion being pivoted vertically beneath the rail junction to swing longitudinally 'toward or jacent rail end in the vertical plane determined bythe longitudinal axis of the corre sponding rail, and means to move said portions and lock theln in positionagainst the rail ends at their junction.

3. A rail joint' construction, comprising a plurality of rails terminating in a junction,

and a continuation portion` ini" each rail abutting the end of the rail att/the junction, said continuationp'ortion being pivoted below the raitjunction to swing longitudinally' toward or "away from the adjacent rail end in the vertical plane determined by the longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail, and

4means to cooperatively movegsaid portions about their `pivots to and from the respective rails. v.

4. A rail joint construction, comprising a plurality of rails terminating in a junction, and a continuation portion for each rail abutting the end of the rail at the junction, said continuation portion being pivoted vertically beneath the rail junction to swing longitudinally toward or away from the adjacent rail end in the vertical plane determined by the longitudinal axis of the corresponding rail, and means to coperatively move Saidportions about their pivots to and from said rails so that when one ofvsaid portions is in engagement with its correspond ing` rail end the other is ni'oved away from the junction of the rails.

5, A rail joint construction, comprising an intersecting' pair of .parallel rails each rail terminating at a junction with -a rail of the other pair, continuationrail sections A extending between the individual rail junctions and comprising movable' portions adapted to abut each junction end of each rail, said portions being pivoted vertically beneath the individual rail junctions to oscillate longitudinally toward or away from the adjacent rail end in the vertical planes determined by tlie'longitudinal axis of the respective corresponding rails, and means to.

move said portions to and away from the rail junctions. U

6. A rail joint construction, comprising an intersecting pair of parallel rails each rail terminating at ajunction with a rail of the other pair, continuation rail sections extending between they individual rail junctions and comprising movable portions adapted to abut each junction end of each rail, said portions being pivotedvertically DCI beneath tlm individual mil, junctions; to osoillate longitudinally townifl or mvny fioin tho adjacent mil ond in tlwl vertical planos detoi'ininoil. by itlio longittulinnl Mis ol' lilio respective ooifit-Sponclingg mils, :intl moons to ooperntivoly movl smid portions to und away from the inil junotions so that Wlion the 'portions ooirespomlingg to one non ot rails are in position zigainnt ibo junolion ends of tlioso rails tlio other nin-tions; nro moved awry from. the junctions.

7. A rail joint construction, comprising nn intersecting poil of'pzn'ullol nils oooh li'nil toi'xninnting nt :i junction with n. mil oi the other poil', continuo tion mil soot-ions oxtonling between the indi vitluol ruil junotons and Consisting Wholly oi" two inovnblo por-- tions adapted to :ibut @noli junction oncl of anch mil, said 'portions being pivotod below the individual Anil 'junction to of'oillnto longit'uflinnlly toward oi nwny :from the mljzv Cent mil end, 'in tho voi'li :il pirineo olf tho iolnieotivo ooivofnjnoniiing fzs." funi moons to oopeintivoly movii suini portions: to unil. awry from ibo i'nil iinnitionn, so that wlion ting portions oorzrosionifi-ing lo ono sot oi i'n'iln nro .in 'ponition :against tbe ji'inotii'in ends of tbosio 'mils tbn otl'ioi poilionn :wo xnovofl e, Wiiy from tho junctiims.

'8. in oonibii'intion 'with intoi'sootiug noires oi pamilol milo nach, i'nil. toi'n'iinnting :il its iiiloisootion with n mit ol3` tlio otlioi' non', mil. Continuation sections bot/woon tbn indi-- viclual mil intersections, oon/l1 of smid Soc tions comprising n poil of in'il poi-tions pivoted below tho nil. intersections find znlnpteil to abut tho onils ot tlm ir :it nniil intornoot'irnis, nuii niozio-i inoluiflingg n non' o'l com piossion links pivotoril to i ,ful 'punti-:insa and to @noli otlnn: to nio'vo n il not'tionnl about their pivotc'.

9. in combination with ii'ito'isocting; of pfn'nliel mils @non iinil toiininnting.:

intersection ivitl)A n mil, ot tuo otlioi' noir, mil `oontiniinltion sections botwoon tbo nulivduni mil. intersections, @noli of fsziiffl. sootionn Comprising n pail' ot? inil 'noitimm pivotoil below tiio ini! intoi'iioot' n 1; nrnfil nilnptml to move longitudinnlly 'toward oi' nwny 'from tlio ends oi tno iniln at noni, intoi'zeotions,

l l l ,L l i anni optimizing moons inolulinn' n pair of links i'ivotofl to i-'znill 'mil ifioltionfs :intl to ozioli otliof unil moons lo :novo tlio oonnnon nivot ol' finiti linlo; lmnsvomoly to tbv lino joining; tlioir points olt oonnotlion to .Qaii'l lnovnblo ruil portions.

'10. A i'nil joint oonslinotion comprising n plurality oli i'nilsI loi'i'ninnling in :1 jurniztion nml. bovino; tlioii onli nur lmzon on n Substanliullv voi'tionl plinio (liogoonl lo ofixli ol tlio `nils, :i ooi'lli'nuution iunftion :foi' noch mil lmving o corronnmuling (lingonul @nfl nclfipi ed to nlnlt tho ono oi' tlm nil nt tho junolion, lnonns to mow the oonliniuition portion longiliuiliunlly to mul 'lioni ibo ruil, und inonnfi to oonliuo ibo voutininxiion pin'tion against lntmul luoiion inilm-,of'l by onigngnnncnt ol :aniil clingmnil omits# il.. it. mil joint nonniruotiim, comprising; u plurality ot mili; lm'inirmting in n junction und bovino; tlioii' onrl Siufnfon on n voiti nl plano (linizjonnl to moli oi tlm milo, :i oonlinuniion portion l'olcznrli iuil baiting u (tolIV i'osgioniliug dinnjoi'nil nml :nlnnlml lo ulml tlm cnil o l tlue vuil nl 1li@ iuni'tifun `lill oontinluition portion boing; nivotonl bolow llio vuil junction to swing longitiuliuzilly townlil oi" nwny 'from lli@ intim-,ont :nil ond in tho Voi-tical nluno oi" its ooi'l'osnmnling mil, and unnns to oonlino llio oontinimtimi no1-lion ngninnt lntol'ul niovouiont imluf'od by ongninnnont oi" :#nid (lingonul onilsz.

lf2. ln u, ilovirfo of ibo olnnni'tvi' l xsoriberl, :i puil ol? intoifsoolii'nglj mils @zich terminating on :i plnuo ilingimml to noli of tbc mils, und n lougzjiturlinully inombla.: continuation portion 'foi' onoli i'nil; mid noilion lmfing :t con xonnonding' clingonul onfl :nlniilod to :ibut ibo ontl of llio ooifi'vspilnding mil7 und moans to ooniino liu: oontinunlion noitions agnint n'iovoi'nont trnnsvoi'so to Itho corresponding mili-5.

,in n'itnoss that fl. olziini tlio foi-@going lnii'o lit-Venuto subscribed my nunio this,l 25th lay of il`oiii'i1niy i913.

ll'iYiif. S. lDlB.

illitno, ist

llliiwooo 'il' lnnnnmn, infinis-s T. llnnnnmw. 

